Startups aren't the only companies racing to build the new world of AI. This week, Sarah Guo talks with Brian Halligan, the co-founder, longtime CEO and now executive chairperson of HubSpot, the fastest growing CRM. He talks about category creation, coining the term ‘inbound marketing,’ lessons in scaling from an app to a suite to a platform, staying innovative at scale, and how they're navigating the AI disruption. Brian also describes the life-threatening moment he decided to step back from the CEO role. Plus, what he’s up to at Propeller Ventures and why he’s banking on the ocean to save us from climate change.

Brian coined the term "inbound marketing" and together with Dharmesh Shah built a movement around the concept, which included organizing the industry-leading INBOUND event and co-authoring the book Inbound Marketing. Now, as the founder of Propeller Ventures, Brian directs a $100 million climate tech venture fund, specializing in ocean investments. He also serves on the boards of Navier and Aquatic Labs. Brian developed MIT’s popular Scaling Entrepreneurial Ventures class, which he’s taught for over a decade.

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Show Notes: 

(0:00:00) - HubSpot's Journey from Unlikely Startup to Industry Incumbent

(0:05:32) - The End of Cold Calling (and the Birth of Inbound)

(0:16:40) - Building a Multi-Product Company

(0:22:07) - How to Stay Innovative and Hungry after Going Public

(0:29:12) - AI Workflows in CRM and the Incumbent Data Advantage

(0:36:09) - Creating a Culture Code for HubSpot

(0:40:24) - Propeller Venture Fund, Ours Oceans and Climate Investing